Liquid applicator



Feb. 16, 1943.

1.. A. CHAMBERS LIQUID APPLIcA'roR Filed April 22, 1940 INVENTOR I 1,00/4 4 flJJZZ/Zj A T TOR N E' Y Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT, OFFICE LIQUID APPLICATOR Laura A. Chambers, St. Louis, Mo.

Application April 22, 1940, Serial No. 330,918

10 Claims.

The invention relates to devices whereby small quantities of liquid maybe withdrawn from a bottle or like container and applied to a desiredsurface without pouring from the bottle. Devices of this nature arecommonly used in applying shoe polish, hair dye, face cream, cleaningfluid, deodorants, etc.

One object of the invention is to accommodate the discharge of a desiredquantity of liquid varying from a few drops to a steady stream.

Another object is to arrange for the withdrawal of the liquid from thecontainer directly onto a dauber which may be charged with the liquidwithout inserting the dauber into the container.

These and other detail objects of the invention are attained by thestructure illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 isa vertical section through a bottle and associated structure embodyingone form of the present invention and showing all of the elements in thepositionand condition characterizing the beginning of a liquid applyingoperation.

Figure 2 is a similar section showing the operating bulb and associatedparts compressed to force air into the bottle.

Figure 3 is a similar section showing the bulb released and partiallyfilled with liquid which may be discharged by further compression of thebulb.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which theliquid is to be applied by means of a dauber and showing the parts atthe beginning of a dauber charging operation.

Figure 5 shows the same parts with the operating bulb compressed toforce air into the bottle.

- Figure 6 illustrates the same parts with the bulb released and thedauber charged with liquid.

Figure 7 is a detail section illustrating a different arrangement of thebulb and associated parts.

The bulb I shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 has a general globular shape witha neck portion 2 adapted to receive and closely engage the neck 3 of abottle .4 in which the liquid to be applied is normally contained. Ahollow tube 5 of glass, rubber, or other material, projects from bulb Iaxially of bulb neck 2, and the exterior of the upper portion of tube 5is tightly joined with the upper or inner end of bulb neck 2. An opentopcup-like partition 6 surrounds the upper 'end of tube 5 and the upperedge I of this partition is normally spaced from the opposing portion 8of the top wall of bulb I. Bulb I and partition 6 are formed of flexiblematerial such as vulcanized rubber which is readily deformable andpossesses resiliency to return quickly to normal position when relievedfrom deforming pressure.

Assuming the bottle to be substantially filled with a liquid L and thebulb to be substantially filled with air A and having its normalcontour, all as indicated in Figure 1, the pressure on the bulb top wall8 distorts the contour of the bulb decreasing its volume and forces airdownwardly through tube 5 discharging the same from the bottom of thelatter where it will bubble upwardly, as indicated at B in Figure 2, andrise to the top of the bottle. As bulb wall 8 moves downwardly itcontacts the upper edge of partition I and deforms the latter, asindicated in Figure 2. Upon release of pressure on bulb I the samereturns to its normal position and the increased volume of its interiorresults in the pressure within the bulb and within the bottle beingunbalanced so that the air in the upper portion of the bottle forces aquantity of liquid upwardly through tube 5 into cup 6 and, after thelatter is filled, into the chamber 9 surrounding the cup, as indicatedin Figure 3. Upon subsequent compression of bulb I liquid is dischargedfrom chamber 9 through a vent IIl provided in the wall of the bulb.Ordinarily this vent will be too small to permit the air originally inthe bulb to escape when pressure is first applied and will be too smallto permit the bulb to be filled with air, instead of with liquid, whenthe first pressure is released. If desired, particularly if the bottleis almost full, shifting of liquid from the bottle to the bulb by theoperations referred to above may be facilitated by placing a finger overvent III to prevent any outlet or inlet of air during the initialmanipulation.

If desired, the bulb may be fitted with a nipple II around vent III tomore clearly indicate the point of discharge and, if desired, aremovable tube I2 of glass such as is used in the ordinary medicinedropper may be inserted through the nipple and removed for cleaning,etc.

The same general principle may be embodied in a somewhat differentarrangement, as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, in which the liquidforced from the bottle, instead of being trapped in a chamber in bulbI5, is discharged against and trapped in a retaining member l6 removablefrom the bulb for application to a desired surface. Member I6 mayconsist of a sponge, cotton pad, brush or other material and isremovably secured in the handle.

Bulb I5 has a neck portion I1 fitting around the bottle neck aspreviously described and the desurrounding the inlet from said' tube,the space between said partition and the side oi'said bulb being adaptedto trap fluid drawn into said bulb through said tube, there being a ventin the side of said bulb for discharging trapped fluid indes- 2 g2,311,367 a vice includes a tube It corresponding to that pendently ofsaid tube when the bulb is again previously described. The upper portionof the compressed. bulb is apertured at I 9. A dauber handle 20 has 2. Adevice as described in claim 1 in which a flanged portion 2| with aflexible edge 22, the the partition comprises an open-top cupsurdiameter or the flange being greater than the 5 rounding the adjacentend of the hollow tube. diameter or aperture 19 so that'when the dauber3. A device as described in claim 1 in which is Pressed d wnw r y t gewill have a sealthe partition is formed of flexible material ing contactwith the bulb and the dauber handle adapted to be deformed upon contactwith the and flange will become in eflect a part of the top bulb whenthe latter is compressed. wall of the bulb. The shank 23 of handle 20 is4. In a device of the class described, a resilient substanti l y sma erin di me e than bulb a bulb having a part arranged to flt around theneck ture ill but member I6 mounted on the lower end of a bottle or likecontainer, a hollow tube exof the shank may slightly exceed thediameterof tending through aid part and opening t t aperture 19 so that it willbe squeezed sli h y as interior of the bulb, there being sealed contactit is passed through the aperturebetween the exterior of said tube andthe inner The handle may be grasped with the fingers portion of saidpart, a flexible partition in the and pressed downwardly from theposition shown bu b surrounding d spaced from th inner open in Figure 4to the position shown in Figure 5 in end of said tube and extendingabove the same, which position the volume of bulb 15 will be retherebeing a passageway between the upper edge duced and the air thereinforced thro gh tube 20 of said partition and the upper inner wall of theIB to the interior oi the bottle where it rises to bulb, said partitionand bulb cooperating to form the top of. the bottle as in theconstruction previchamber for trapping fluid drawn through said 11 1?described. Upon release of pressur n the tube, said bulb being aperturedat the side of said handle the bulb will return to its normal contourpartitign opposite t said t t discharge fluid and, the unbalancedpressure in the bottle and so trapped. the bulb Will result inl q d ngforced upward- 5. In a device of the class described, a bulb of 3 hroughtube I8 and discharged a a nst and resilient material having an openingin its upper around member l6 w ich m h r wlthdlawh wall, a separablemember including a handle, a from th b d applied to the Surface to beradial disc thereon, and a shank depending from treated. I 0 said disc,said disc being arranged to close said Figure 7 illus r e an,arrangement whereby openin and having a flexible edge to overlap the theside of the bulb 25 is: brought down directly edge of aid o ening, therebeing a liquid to the bottle n c 26 and an inner Wall 21 on the sorbentsponge at the lower end of said shank, a extends Over the rim of themouth hollow from the lower wall of said to Surround and mount tube 28.Otherwise 15136 upper end opening said opconstruction corre p ngenerally to that N posite to said sponge, and a depending neck on O slydeselibedsaid bulb surrounding said tube and arranged to The d v e hasthe advantage of avoldme the fit the mouth of a liquid container intowhich said insertion of a stem or tube within a bottle and tube may beinsertei its r from the home for The device 40 6. In a device of theclass described, a bulb of may 101' the Cork and is resilient materialhaving an opening in its top unnecessary to struggle with the corkbefore the wall and a depending neck in it tt wall contents of thebottle are available. If the deadapted to receive the neck of a liquidcontaining vi e s described in Figures s bottle, there being a hollowtube communicating i r th lik there is no possibility o l with theinterior of said bulb and projecting in a n n d dlspenser Into h bottle,as through said bulb neck to be inserted in the li uid is Possible h theY dropper in the bottle, and a separable member applicable nd whe edevice as deathbed in Figures 4- v to said bulb to close the opening inthe top wall is used as a dauber. h sponge is firmly held thereof andthrough which pressure may be apclose to the end when in use rather thanon the plied to said bulb to compress the same, said end 01 a flexibleWire! her having a sponge element insertable within In both forms oinvention hquld not act said bulb and positlonedto be in the path ofliquid tually used is readily retalned and the device discharged intosaid bulb by alternate compresavoids the messihess whmh would attend thesion and release of said bulb by manipulation of withdrawal ol'moreliquid than is required for said member. 8 iv n pp 7. In; a device ofthe class described, a collapsi- The details of the construction may bevaned ble chamber with walls of flexible material hav- Otherwise than asdescribed above Without ing one side arranged for the application of theParting from the m M the inventlon flf chamber to a fluid container, ahollow tube with exclusive use of such modifications as come m anunrestricted opening at its upper end into n the scope 0f the claimslscohtemplatedthe bottom of the interior of the chamber and What isclaimed is: projecting from the chamber for insertion of its In a device1 the 01955, described, bulb of lower and unrestricted end into thefluid conresilient ma ri a hollow tube opening n the tainer, saidchamber being collapsible under mannte ier 0f t e bulb and Projectingtherefrom ual pressure to a flattened oblate form to force insertioninto a fluid container, said bulb b in fluid therein through said tube,and being expanscompressibleto force fluid therein through s vible toits normal contour, upon release from mant p release from Pressure, to pd ual pressure, to thereby draw fluid from said conto normal contour andthereby take n i tainer through said tube into said chamber, the hr u hsaid tube. a P i i n n id bulb an device including means within saidchamber form- .ing a trap for fluid drawn into said chamber through saidtube, said tube draining surplus untrapped fluid drawn into the chamberback into the container, and means independent of said tube fordischarging the trapped fluid from the chamber to the exterior of thedevice and container, said trap-forming means being of flexible materialreadily deformable to accommodate col lapsing of the chamber when manualpressure is applied to the exterior of the chamber.

8. In a device of the class described, a collapsible chamber having oneside arranged for the application of the chamber to a fluid container, ahollow tube opening at one end into the interior of the chamber andprojecting from the chamber for insertion of its other end into thefluid container, said chamber being collapsible under manual pressure toforce fluid therein through said tube, and being expansible to itsnormal contour, upon release from manual pressure to thereby draw fluidfrom said container through said tube into said chamber, the deviceincluding a liquid-absorbent sponge member readily insertible into andremovable from the chamber and forming a trap for fluid drawn into thechamber through said tube.

9. In a device of the class described, a, collapsible chamber having oneside arranged for the application of the chamber to a fluid container, ahollow tube opening at one end into the interior of the chamber andprojecting from the chamber for insertion of its other end into thefluid container, said chamber being collapsible under manual pressure toforce fluid therein through said tube, and being expansible to itsnormal contour, upon release from manual pressure to thereby draw fluidfrom said container through said tube into said chamber, there being anopening in the upper portion of the chamber wall, a separable closureapplicable to said latter-mentioned opening; and a liquid-absorbentmember depending from said closure and constituting a trap for liquiddrawn into the chamber through said tube as described, and beingreceivable in and removable; from said chamber through said opening byapplication and detachment of said closure.

10. In a device of the class described, a collapsible chamber with wallsof flexible material having one side arranged for the application of thechamber to a fluid container, a hollow tube opening at its upper endinto the bottom of the interior of the chamber and projecting from thechamber for insertion of its lower end into the fluid container, saidchamber being collapsible under manual pressure to force fluid thereinthrough said tube, and being expansible to its normal contour, uponrelease from manual pressure to thereby draw fluid from said containerthrough said tube into said chamber, the device including elementsforming a trap for fluid drawn into said chamber through said tube, saidtube being unobstructed throughout its length and draining surplusuntrapped fluid in the chamber by gravity back into the container whenmanual pressure on the chamber is released, and means independent ofsaid tube for discharging the trapped fluid from the chamber.

LAURA A. CHAMBERS.

